10 More Near Perfect Punk Rock Albums
2. Generation X: Generation X (1978)
Generation X was much more than just the launch pad for Billy Idol. Often branded as 'pop-punk', they were far more melodic and easy on the ears than groups like the Damned or Buzzcocks. For many devote punks, these guys were seen as a bunch of posing pretty boys who played up their good looks by adopting a cliched style.
But this is an unfair assessment. Idol was a member of Bromley Contingent, a group of Sex Pistols super fans who followed the band around on tour with a cult like devotion. Guitarist Tony James had previously played in London SS with the Clash frontman Mick Jones. These guys were anything but posers... , they were part of the original punk wave.
Their debut record is a must for any punk fan. You can already hear Idol crafting his signature snarl on tracks like Gimmie Some Truth. But the real charm comes in the form of guitarist Tony James. He had an innate knack for rhythmic riff work. Tracks like From The Heart saw him switch between your more typical three chord driven structure and blues inspired licks - something unusual for punk rock. Promises Promises again was driven by guitar leads as opposed to chords alone. These guys were perhaps unfairly branded 'pop-punk' because they neglected to conform to the punk style of the day. Ironically this was the thing that made them just as punk as their contemporaries.